Robinson Crusoe on Mars Blu-rayReview

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Vintage sci-fi from Criterion.

By R.L. Shaffer

In all likelihood, when Robinson Crusoe on Mars was released back in 1964, it was hailed as clever science-fiction. After all, the film posed many intriguing questions about Mars – questions that astronomers had long pondered (some still do). It also painted a vivid, unique picture of space exploration, and better yet, a wonderfully lively special-effects laden vision of what life on Mars was really like. However, that was 1964. Today, the film plays like a humorously dated, occasionally dry piece of sci-fi, with an emphasis on fiction more than science.

That's not really meant to be an insult. It's just a tragic fact. Robinson Crusoe on Mars is still a brilliant film, just not in all the ways it was always intended. For those unaware, the story follows an astronaut (Paul Mantee) who crash-lands on Mars. With only his trusty monkey, Mona, at his side, the astronaut must attempt to find a way to live now that he's been stranded in the barren wasteland of the red planet. But when our hero encounters a species of man enslaved by an alien race, and befriends one of them, things get even more bizarre.

Today, Robinson Crusoe on Mars serves as a remarkably fascinating piece of history, representing the optimism of space travel, and our general lack of knowledge about what Mars was really like. And while the science doesn't completely work anymore, the fictional narrative holds up rather well. Nowadays it's pretty common, but re-imaginings of classic stories to fit modern (or futuristic) environments was a truly original endeavor back in '64. Sure, the film is rough around the edges, the story is a little overlong, and the acting is a bit stilted, but the film's refreshing spirit and tenacity still ignite. And the visual effects, while very cheesy, are endearing and inventive, particularly for the era and budget.

Robinson Crusoe on Mars arrives on Blu-ray as part of the Criterion Collection. Given the cult obscurity of this title it's fairly surprising just how good this hi-def presentation looks and sounds. Criterion preserves the film's original 2.35:1 frame using the AVC codec spread across a BD50 disc. Naturally, given the era, heavy film grain as well as some dust and dirt specks are found throughout the picture, though none are ever that distracting, save for a few flecks of black hair that intrude the bottom frame every now and then. Colors are vivid and spot-on. And depth and details are striking, particularly for a film this old.

In keeping with all Criterion releases, the studio brings the film's original soundtrack to Blu-ray, as opposed to re-mixing it into an organic 5.1 sound field (as most studios usually do). In this case, the film receives a LPCM 1.0 mono presentation. Don't let the word "mono" fool you, though: Criterion stretches the narrow sound field to its limits with fantastic results. Dialogue is clean, sound effects are balanced and stable, and there's very little hiss or other distortions. Yes, it's a mono mix, but it's a damn good mono mix.

On the extras front, Criterion ports over all the previously available bonus features last found on the DVD special edition of the film (also from Criterion). Included is a commentary track, originally recorded for the Laserdisc, featuring writer Ib Melchior, actors Paul Mantee and Victor Lundin, designer Al Nozaki, film historian Robert Skotak, and director Byron Haskin (via archival interviews). It's a pretty great track, though occasionally a little dry and obviously patched together. Other extras include an insightful 19-minute featurette, "Destination Mars," which examines the real-life questions about Mars posed in the film that astronomers still ponder today. There's also a music video, a collection of artwork and a trailer. Disc extras are presented in HD. Physical goodies include a 14-page book filled with production notes, disc specs, essays and more.

Sadly, Robinson Crusoe on Mars does not visually, or scientifically, hold up. But that doesn't make it any less important. It's a fascinating portrait of a planet we once knew very little about. And it's a clever re-imagining of the classic novel from Daniel Defoe. The Blu-ray is a notable improvement over the DVD, at least in terms of the transfer and audio presentation. Alas, Criterion misses an opportunity to revisit the extras. Still, if you're a fan of this film, or a curious sci-fi fan, I'd give this cult title a spin. It might just be exactly what you're looking for.